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What’s new for MEETINGS in 2023?

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The MEETINGS show floor in Christchurch in 2022
New Zealand’s flagship business events trade show MEETINGS, organised by industry association Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA), is heading to the nation’s capital for the first time in 2023 to be held at Tākina, Wellington’s new purpose-built convention centre, which opens this week. Alongside a new city, there’s a host of other first-time initiatives and experiences in store for the event this year.

On and around the show floor

Millennium Hotels and Resorts is bringing its hospitality to MEETINGS in a new way this year, with a Club Lounge opening onto Tākina’s second floor deck, for hosted buyers to have some quiet time, catch up on work and spin and win for instant prizes or to land discounts and other opportunities for future events in New Zealand.

“We will have bubbles on hand, plenty of comfortable seating, plus working space if buyers need some quiet time to catch up on their emails,” says Sam Horsnell, Millennium Hotels and Resorts’ director of sales for conferences and incentives.

The Tourism New Zealand’s Knowledge and Destination Hub will have a networking space for the first time, in addition to the opportunity for event planners to boost their destination and product knowledge of 14 of New Zealand’s regions.

As part of the Christchurch Airport Lounge, MEETINGS delegates can also take a quick time out with a head and shoulder massage thanks to SoulWorks.

A carbon neutral event

MEETINGS will be a carbon neutral event for the first time in 2023. BEIA has been working towards MEETINGS being a certified carbon neutral event operation through Toitū Envirocare Certification, which requires all carbon emissions to be measured and offset. As part of this, all hosted buyers and media flights will be offset.

“Held in this beautiful 5-Star Green rated building, we are carbon-offsetting hosted buyers air travel with Air New Zealand’s FlyNeutral programme, reducing printed material, and partnering with local charities Kaibosh Food Rescue, Gillies McIndoe Institute and Wellington Zoo to make donations on behalf of every hosted buyer,” says BEIA chief executive Lisa Hopkins.

New technology

The registration and onsite check-in system for MEETINGS will be provided by New Zealand-based On-Site Event Technology, giving Australian and New Zealand buyers an experience of locally based event tech operators.

The kiosks feature the latest touchscreens and will print registration badges on demand using biodegradable, compostable stock. The kiosks are portable and can be used as door scanners for offsite social events.

A new city

Wellington is having a moment in the spotlight at just the right time, with MEETINGS to be held in its new convention centre Tākina, within its first month of opening.

“We’re super excited to show Tākina off to our industry, and to highlight how we can support organisations to successfully bring their business events here,” said Business Events Wellington manager Irette Ferreira earlier this month.

As a first-time host of MEETINGS, Business Events Wellington will take 160 hosted buyers on a famil of the city, showcasing Wellington’s capabilities for business events.

Throughout the event, hosted buyers will have a chance to see Wellington venues in action, with the welcome event set to take place at Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of New Zealand, across the road from Tākina, while the closing event will be hosted at TSB Auditorium at Shed 6 on Wellington’s waterfront.

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